Adjustable stop for rotary vane motors



March 2, 1965 w. A. RANDLE 3,171,332

ADJUSTABLE STOP FOR ROTARY VANE MOTORS Filed June 4, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet1 FIG. I

INVENTOR. WI NSLOW A. RANDLE Ma i ATTORNEYS W. A. RAN DLE ADJUSTABLE STOP FOR ROTARY VANE MOTORS March 2, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 4,1965 5 INVENTOR WINSLOW A. RANDLE M if fif ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent 3 171 332 ADJUSTABLE sror Fon iaoTARY VANE MOTORS Winslow A.Randie, Houston, Tex, assignor to Shafer Valve Company, Mansfield, Ohio,a corporation of Ghio Filed dune 4, 1963, Ser. No. 285,467 4 Claims.($3. 92-13) naled therein, the rotor hub being keyed to the valve stem.

Stationary shoe members are mounted within the motor to stop the travelof the vanes and rotor when the valve has been rotated to the closed oropen positions. In order to prevent comingling of the fluids beingdispatched in the pipeline system and to prevent cavitation and otherundesirable effects, the rotary vane motor must be installed on thevalve and precisely aligned so that the terminus of rotary travel of thevanes corresponds exactly with the fully closed position of the valve.Similarly, to insure full opening of the valve for unimpeded flow, theterminus of rotary vane travel in the opening direction must correspondwith the fully open position of the valve.

Heretofore, adjustment and alignment of the motor with the valve hasbeen attempted by rotating the motor casing on the bolt flanges of thevalve. However, only very limited rotational adjustmentcorresponding tothe aggregate tolerances of the bolt holesis possible using this method.Certain prior art motors have incorporated features allowing adjustmentof vane stops internally of the motor. However, this method of alignmentand adjustment is also unsatisfactory due to the additional time andeffort required to dismantle the motor to perform the internaladjustments. Further, internal adjustments cannot, of course, beaccomplished while the motor cavity is filled with hydraulic fluid underhigh pressure. Thus, normal maintenance adjustments and alignment cannotbe accomplished without shutting down the pipeline and hydraulic system.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide adjustablestop means for a hydraulic rotary vane motor furnishing preciseadjustment of the limit points of rotary travel.

It is a further object of the invention to provide stop means which maybe adjusted externally of the motor without the necessity fordismantling.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide meanspermitting adjustment of vane travel limits while the motor is filledwith fluid under pressure. I

It is an even further object to provide adjustable stop means which areinexpenisve to manufacture and install and which may be utilized inexisting rotary vane motors.

These and other objects of the present invention will be understood byreference to the drawings and following detailed specification.

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In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan assembly view partly in section, of a rotary vane motoraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1, theview having been rotated clockwise.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, similar to FIG. 1 of one ofthe vanes in abutment with a fixed shoe and adjustable stop assembly.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side view taken substantially on line4--4 of FIG. 1.

FIG 5 is a sectional view substantially on line 5--5 of FIG. 1, the vane28 having been disregarded and the view rotated 90 clockwise. v

FIG. 6 is a detail view on line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a detached perspective view of the member illustrated in FIG.6.

The rotary vane motor preferably includes a cylindrical casing 10 havingan integral end 11, closing one end of the casing, and a heavy circularcover plate 12 forming the opposite end wall and attached to thecylindrical casing by a circumferential row of screw studs 13. The jointbetween plate 12 and cyilnder wall 10 is preferably sealed by aresilient gasket or O ring 12 seated in a groove in the casing 12. Forfurther sealing means, a fiat gasket seat 13 may be provided in thecasing 10 around the bolt circle for screw studs 13.

The rotor 14 comprises a hub 15 having its ends journaled in end walls11 and 12 by sleeve bearings 16 and 17, respectively. The sleevebearings each carry wiper rings or 0 rings 18 at the bearing surface toprevent leakage of hydraulic fluid from the motor and to seal out dustand other foreign matter. Each sleeve bearing is also provided withpairs of fluid and dust sealing 0 rings 19 at the bearing mountingsurfaces in the end walls. The 0 rings 19 are spaced axially above andbelow deep annular grooves 20 and 21 in end walls 11 and 12,respectively. The purpose of grooves 20 and 21 will be described below.

The rotor hub 15 has an axial bore 22 extending therethrough with one ormore keyways 23 for mounting the rotary vane motor in operative splinedengagement with the stern of a rotary plug or ball valve (not shown).Additionally the motor may have a valve mounting ring flange 24 attachedto the bottom end wall 11 as by countersunk cap screws 25. Threadedbores 26 may be provided to secure the stationary casing 10 to theflange of a rotary valve. Further, threaded screw bores 27 may beprovided at the upper end of the hub 15 to permit attachment of a dustcover over the valve stem in bore 22.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the rotor vanes arepreferably separate, generally rectangular blocks 28 and 28 welded tothe rotor hub at diametrically opposite locations. However, the vanesmay be integrally formed or cast with the rotor hub or attached theretoby other means, as by bolts or dowels. As shown in FIG. 2, each vanepreferably has at least one rectilinear 0 ring 29 disposed substantiallyaround its vertical perimeter in continuous fluid-tight engagement withthe inner walls of the casing 10 and the end walls 11 and 12 to preventseepage or leakage of fluid past the vane as it rotates within thecavity.

The preferred embodiment of the rotary vane motor also has a pair ofdiametrically opposite stationary shoes 3 30 and 30', disposed withinthe cavity as walls to bisect the cavity into two volumes or chamberswithin which the vanes rotate. Each shoe 30 preferably comprises awedge-shape block 31 with at least one rectilinear O ring carried in agroove extending around the vertical perimeter of the block. The linearring 32, in cooperation with the close tolerance fit of the block withthe rotor and inside walls of the casing cavity, furnishes an effectivepressure fluid seal to prevent leakage of hydraulic fluid between thetwo volumes of the cavity. As shown, the shoes 30 and 30' may be securedin position within the motor by bolts 33 extending through the wall ofcasing 10.

As shown in plan in FIG. 1, each shoe 30 preferably has, cooperativelyassociated therewith, two adjustable vane stop assemblies 34, with thegage block 35 thereof in operative sliding abutment with the vertical,generally radially oriented wall surfaces 36 of the wedge-shape block31.- These vane stop assemblies 34 may be adjusted externally toprecisely limit the rotary travel of the motor vanes in a manner morefully discussed below. Although the preferred embodiment contemplatesthe inclusion of four stop assemblies, one on either side of each shoe,it will be understood that similar results can be obtained with only twostop assemblies disposed about only one of the shoes. However, toprovide adequate mechanical pressure support for the vanes in the fullyclosed and fully opened positions of the motor, the use of four stopassemblies is preferred. Use of only two stop assemblies, abutting therotor and vane assembly at only one end, might perm-it creationofundesirable stresses in the rotor vane not abutting and being supportedby a stop.

Since the stop assemblies 34 are preferably identical andinterchangeable, and since their orientations and associated structureare symmetrical about transverse center lines of the motor as shown inthe plan view of FIG. 1; detailed description of structure and operationfor only one of the assemblies is sufiicient to instruct one skilled inthe art in the practice of the invention. As best shown in FIGS. 3-5, anadjustable vane stop assembly 34, in the preferred embodiment, includesa gage block 35 adapted for operative engagement or abutment injuxtaposition with a vertical, generally radially oriented wall surface36 of shoe block 31, as by guide surface 37. Shoe block surface 36 mayalso have one or more limit pins 36' to limit inward travel of gageblock 35 and prevent jamming against the rotor. Gage block 35 has athreaded bore 38 extending through its medial portion in a generallyradial direction and'adapted to receive the threaded shank 39 ofadjustment stud 40.

The threaded shank 39 of adjustment stud 49 joins with a medial studportion of slightly greater outer diameter, which is disposed within abore 42 through casing 10. The bore 42 is counterbored inwardly for asubstantial length to form a shoulder 43, spaced inwardly from themedial stud portion 41 to form a circumferential groove 44 therebetweenwithin which a thrust washer may be carried. The medial stud portion hasan O ring 45, disposed within a circumferential seating groove, toprovide a pressure fluid seal preventing leakage of hydraulic fluid fromthe interior of the motor.

The medial stud portion 41 extends outwardly to a second or outerthreaded shank portion 46 terminating in square stud head 47. Bore 42 incasing may be spot faced to receive annular face plate 48 aroundthreaded shank 46. Face plate 48 is secured to casing 10 by countersunkscrews 49, and may be scribed or otherwise calibrated to provide anindicator or reference dial for external rotational adjustment of, stud40. The bore 59 in face plate 48, through which shank 46 is inserted, isof smaller diameter than the outer diameter of medial stud portion 41,thereby providing a retaining shoulder preventing axial movement of theadjustment stud 49. A locknut 51 is providedto secure the adjustmentstud 40 from further rotation once the stop assem- 4 bly has beenadjusted and aligned with respect to the fully open and closed positionsof the valve.

As shown by the chain line positions of gage block 35, it may be movedinwardly and outwardly with respect to the rotor 14 by turning theadjustment stud 4i externally with a wrench. The gage block 35preferably has a beveled leading surface 52 joining with a surface 53,substantially parallel with the surface 37, to form a leading edge 54providing sharp contact with abutting vane 28 to insure maximumprecision and range of adjustment. For example, in a typical rotary vanemotor having vanes with a radial length of three inches, it is possibleto achieve a total angular adjustment (55) of two and onehalf degrees byuse of the external stop adjustment means 34.

As shown in FIGS. 5-7 the gage block 35 has beveled or chamfered top andbottom surfaces 56 to prevent blocking the porting means for the motor.The motor preferably employs porting means having external exhaustconnection means 57 and pressure connection means 58 together withcrossover porting for balanced torque rotary operation. For example,diametrically opposite internal ports 59 and 60 are shown operativelycommunicating with upper annular groove 21; while internal :ports 61 and62 are connected by lower annular groove 20. Further details of theporting and pressure flow may be understood upon reference to the U.S.patent to H. I. Shafer, No. 2,811,142, dated October 29, 1957, thedetails of hydraulic porting and circuitry forming no part of thepresent invention.

From the foregoing specification, it will be apparent that the severalobjects of the invention may be accomplished by the apparatus disclosedand described. Further minor variations and equivalents may be employedwithout departing from the true spirit of the invention, the scope ofthe invention being measured solely by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable vane stop assembly for a rotary vane fluid motorcomprising, a gage block adapted to be disposed within the housing ofsaid motor in operative juxta position with a stationary shoe member,said gage block having a beveled leading end surface and a side surfacedefining an edge surface adapted to abut a motor vane, a threaded borethrough said gage block extending parallel to said side surface, anadjustment stud having a threaded shank engaging said bore in said gageblock, a medial portion of said stud adapted to rotatably extend througha bore in said housing, a resilient pressure fluid sealing ring aroundsaid medial portion, and a second stud shank portion joining said medialportion and terminating in a stud head.

2-. In a rotary vane fluid motor having a cylindrical housing, a rotorhub having a vane oscillatable in said housing, a stationary shoe memberin said housing defining a pressure chamber within which said vaneoscillates, said shoe having a radially oriented wall surface, theimprovement comprising an adjustable gage block slidably abutting saidradial wall surface and having a beveled side surface defining an edgefor abutting said vane, and an adjustment stud screwed into said gageblock and extending through said housing for rotative operationexteriorly of said housing to adjust the gage block radially therein.

3. In a rotary vane fluid motor having a cylindrical housing, a rotorhub having a vane oscillatable in said housing, a stationary shoe memberin said housing defining a pressure chamber within which said vaneoscillates, said shoe having a radially oriented wall surface, theimprovement comprising an adjustable gage block slidably abutting saidradial wall surface and having a beveled side surface defining an edgefor abutting said vane, and an adjustment stud screwed into said gageblock and extending through said housing for rotative operationexteriorly of said housing to adjust the gage block radially therein,and means for fluid sealing that portion of said adjustment stud passingthrough said housing.

4. In a rotary vane fluid motor having a cylindrical housing, a rotorhub having a vane oscillatable in said housing, a stationary shoe memberin said housing defining a pressure chamber Within which said vaneoscillates, said shoe having a radially oriented wall surface, theimprovement comprising an adjustable gage block slidably abutting saidradial wall surface and having a side portion for abutting said vane,and an adjustment stud 10 References Cited in the file of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTS Riddell May 9, 1905 Shafer Jan. 22, 1957

1. AN ADJUSTABLE VANE STOP ASSEMBLY FOR A ROTARY VANE FLUID MOTORCOMPRISING, A GAGE BLOCK ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED WITHIN THE HOUSING OFSAID MOTOR IN OPERATIVE JUXTAPOSITION WITH A STATIONARY SHOE MEMBER,SAID GAGE BLOCK HAVING A BEVELED LEADING END SURFACE AND A SIDE SURFACEDEFINING AN EDGE SURFACE ADAPTED TO ABUT A MOTOR VANE, A THREADED BORETHROUGH SAID GAGE BLOCK EXTENDING PARALLEL TO SAID SIDE SURFACE, ANADJUSTMENT STUD HAVING A THREADED SHANK ENGAGING SAID BORE IN SAID GAGEBLOCK, A MEDIAL PORTION OF SAID STUD ADAPTED TO ROTATABLY EXTEND THROUGHA BORE IN SAID HOUSING, A RESILIENT PRESSURE FLUID SEALING RING AROUNDSAID MEDIAL PORTION, AND A SECOND STUD SHANK PORTION JOINING SAID MEDIALPORTION AND TERMINATING IN A STUD HEAD.